The appeal is likely to seek to convict the fallen track star of murder, after prosecutor Gerrie Nel sought to prove at trial that Pistorius deliberately shot dead Steenkamp in a hail of gunfire at his luxury home in Pretoria.

Judge Masipa said in her judgment that the facts were not available to convicted the Bladerunner of premeditated murder.

Pistorius' family have said previously he accepted the sentence and did not intend to appeal. The former athlete has always denied killing Steenkamp deliberately, claiming he acted in a misguided bid to protect her from a supposed intruder.